Hobbies And Interests
Compare Radar Systems
Learn about the different types of radar: regular, Doppler and NEXRAD. Print out pictures of each to show the differences. Doppler radar shows the intensity of the precipitation and NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) is a type of Doppler that shows storms from different angles. This helps forecasters to determine the severity of the storm. Create a chart or a Venn diagram with three rings to compare and contrast the three different radar systems.
To make a Venn diagram, draw three circles which have a center overlap for all three circles. Write the name of a radar type over each circle. This center overlap is where you write the things the three types of radar have in common. In locations where only two circles overlap, write what those two types of radar have in common that the third type does not. Where there is no overlap, write how each radar type is unique. Online tutorials for using Venn diagrams are also available for additional assistance.
What type does your local weather station use? Why do they choose that type over others? Research the future of radar systems and speculate on other applications of it beyond weather.
Doppler Effect Study
Learn about the Doppler effect with a car's horn. Have a parent help you with this project, as you need someone to drive a car. Go out into a large, empty parking lot with a recorder. Stand next to the car and have the driver press on the horn for 10 seconds while you record the sound. Do not move while recording. This is the control sample. Now instruct the driver to drive the car to the opposite end of the parking lot while you stand in the middle. Start recording as the driver drives from one end of the lot to the other, continuously sounding the horn. Notice the difference in the samples. What happened to the sound of the horn the second time? Did it change volume as the car moved? As the sound changed, its frequency changed. Compare this to how Doppler radar works by measuring the change in frequency to determine wind speeds, direction and intensity of precipitation.
Applications
Explore who uses weather radar systems beyond local television forecasters. Think about places where knowing the weather would be important, such as air traffic control, boats and the military. Why would these groups need to know the weather immediately instead of waiting for the television forecast? Create a presentation showing difference places where weather radar is found.
Create a Forecast
Use local weather radar data with other weather conditions to predict the weather in your area for the next 24 hours and the next five days. What factors come into play in forecasting the weather? Draw your forecast on a map, coloring in areas of predicted rain in green, sleet in purple and snow in white. After one week, look over your prediction and evaluate it for accuracy. Explain in your project why some of your predictions did not match with what happened. Even professional meteorologists cannot perfectly predict the weather, so discrepancies in your forecast and the actual should be expected.